Crazy in America: The Hidden Tragedy of Our Criminalized Mentally Ill

For years, I have watched the homesless people walk up and down the main streets in the city closest to where I live, the thought crossing my mind that these are the result of budget cuts which closed the nearby psychiatric center. While I'd read about the crisis for this same population, (Many of the articles were written by the same author as Crazy in America, Mary Beth Pfeiffer, an advocate for these people for many years.) the extent and the consequences of this institution's closing, and others across America, was never as clear as they have become as a result of reading this book.Pfeiffer's heartbreaking case studies document the problem the mentally ill confront within the penal system, a system never intended to deal with this personnel. Through these tragic case studies, the author demonstrates that a system that punishes the mentally ill in the same ways it treats other prisoners is a set-up for these victims. At the same time that her book focuses on and evokes sympathy and compassion for the mentally ill, it also causes the reader to question how our prisons function for anyone in America.While this book may hold particular interest for workers in the mental health field, it is of importance for employees in our schools, judicial system, and for anyone who has a mentally ill person in his/her family. It seems this book reaches out to everyone, and hopefully, will encourage people to work toward the changes in a system that is broken for a large percentage of the people involved in it. We must watch over those incapable of caring for themselves.This is a must read for any socially responsible person in America.As for the author, a superb example of investigative reporting! Well done!!!

For decades we have been talking about the tragic decision that was made in the 1960's when thousands of mentally ill people were turned out of America's institutions and left with no where to go for basic everyday services and mental health care. In her new book, "Crazy in America," Mary Beth Pfeiffer tells us the heart breaking stories of what happened as a result of that decision. We did not build facilities in our communities to care for these people, we did not train people who were capable of working with them and their families and providing the services they needed. What we did do was build more and more prisons where they were locked up for years, often in isolation and treated like criminals of the worst kind.Pfeiffer gives us in depth case studies of six people with mental illness and their tragic encounters with the criminal justice system. Only one, Shayne Eagan of Iowa, is still alive. She gouged her eyes out while under care of state. Over and over Pfieffer demonstrates how deadly the use of isolation is, not only for the mentally ill, but also for all human beings. Yet this is the response of choice of those in corrections.The author gives us her list of 10 things that must be done to address this tragic situation. Reading her book should motivate many of us to contact our legislators and urge them to take the steps that are needed to address this scourge on our land and to personally monitor what is happening regarding mental health services and criminal justice in our own states and communities. If you do nothing else: speak out against the building of more prisons.

First, this book is well written and is a page turner. Second, conservative or not if this book doesn't make you re-think your faith, you could be six feet under and not know it. Third, why do we treat our most vulnerable worst than animals?. Fourth, the word tolerance refers to diversity in good, NOT evil. Fifth, Vampires and Zombies metaphorically speaking are real, just look in the mirror and if you're that vain that you take this comment personally, then it's probably true. Sixth, whether you burn a witch at the stake or you torture and kill it slowly, your still doing the same thing, demonizing an innocent and satisfying your blood-lust. Finally, the sad truth is that over 99.99% of our country will never read this book; arrogance is ignorance is bliss is villainy. Also check out:  Surviving Justice: America's Wrongfully Convicted and Exonerated .

Awesome book! I actually got to meet one of the people in the book, so it was even more of an interesting read, but very well-written and informative overall. Highly recommend!

True journalism informs and educates. This well researched book does both.A must read for all who are concerned about an America gone madand the industrial prison complexes that grow rich off the backs of human misery. This effects every household in America don't wait until it hits your door to read it.A grieving mother

Crazy in America: The Hidden Tragedy of Our Criminalized Mentally Ill  As a long time staff advocate for the National Alliance on Mental illness (NAMI), I found the book and its multiple story accounts very accurate and heart rendering. For the uninformed, the stories may be so impactful that they will find it hard to understand that a society could mistreat its citizens so badly. Good book.

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Pfeiffer does an excellent job of putting a face on the maddening criminalization of mental illness in the US.

Only half way thro, but really enjoying it. Very easy to read, interesting and a page turner, esp for non fiction. Shocking of course and probably in an only slightly less harsh way exactly what goes on in the uk. Please look out for her next book in I suppose about a year. It should be about an absolute scandal here in the uk, different topic, but could affect huge numbers of us.......I understand it is being researched atm.So few investigative reporters these days, they all seem to have been silenced. Rarely do we get a real, true picture.

Fantastic book, gives the facts and the truth behind our uncaring healthcare systems worldwide. Where has our humanity gone? Tragedy after tragedy